Details

El Toro Bravo in Costa Mesa is a legendary carniceria, selling only meat, tacos, and burritos. They've been cranking out great tortillas, tacos and burritos for so many decades (and is related to both El Toro Bravo in SanTana and El Camino Real in Fullerton) that it's easy to take El Toro Bravo's skill for granted: the best-flavored rotisserie chicken, carne asada griddled with caramelized onion, and the moistest carnitas in the Mexican-restaurant neighborhood of West Costa Mesa. El Toro Bravo could easily rest on its reputation and stop caring, like so many long-running restaurants, but they still kill it every day on their specialty items. Whole chickens are dry-brined for many hours with an annatto-rich adobo seasoning that works its tangy flavor and salt deep into the breast meat. If you've ever eaten bland rotisserie chicken (I'm looking at you, Costco!) that lacked any salt or flavor beneath the skin, know that's not going to happen to you at El Toro Bravo, ever.

Get the Things to Do Newsletter

Sign up for our weekly guide to events in Orange County, and never be bored again. With suggestions for every day of the week, our recommendations will keep you busy on any budget.

Related Stories (2)

So we sat at Weekly World Headquarters, trying to figure out what the theme for this year's food issue should be: Mexican food? We kind of did that years ago. Sandwiches? Meh. Salads? Weak salsa. "What about wraps?" someone asked. "...

They've been cranking out great tortillas, tacos and burritos for so many decades that it's easy to take El Toro Bravo's skill for granted: the best-flavored rotisserie chicken, carne asada griddled with caramelized onion, and the m...